Book Review: Signs of Murder
Signs of Murder. A. F. Whitehouse, Duncan, 11 February 2022, Paperback and eBook, 308 pages.
Reviewed by Florence Osmund.
Dana Demeter is a Chicago homicide detective. She is married to Jimmy, also a member of the Chicago police force, who is temporarily in Los Angeles for extensive gang-related law enforcement training. Dana comes from a hearing-impaired family, and when her father tells her in sign language that his friend Toby, also hearing-impaired, has died under suspicious circumstances, she is eager to begin working on the case.
After barely getting started working on the murder case, Dana fails to meet the new precinct regulations on weight and smoking. Then, when she shows up at work with alcohol on her breath, she is suspended from her job and given the choice of filing a union grievance (in which case she would be suspended without pay) or getting professional help for her alleged alcohol problem and being suspended with pay. Either way, she is off the force for the time being and forbidden to work on Toby’s or anyone else’s case.
Loyal to her father, defiant and headstrong, Dana continues to work on the case despite her suspension and is able to unearth valuable details that the lead investigator has either not yet discovered or intentionally not divulged—details that point to a different suspect. But Dana has to consider the risks she runs by continuing to work on the case: harsher discipline from her superiors, a greater strain on the already fragile relationship with her husband, and continued denial of her own personal problems.
Signs of Murder is a compelling mystery with an interesting spin—the involvement of people in the Deaf community. Many twists and turns allow the plot and subplots to progress at an engaging pace. Clues interwoven throughout the narrative encourage readers to actively engage in piecing them together. The story is intriguing and unique, thick with suspense and action, and with enough red herrings to keep readers guessing.
Creating a hero character with an optimal balance of admirable qualities, strengths, weaknesses, and flaws can be tricky, but Whitehouse manages to do this quite well in protagonist Dana. This clever character-building makes Dana relatable and believable while adding depth, complexity, and higher stakes to the tale.
Adding dimension to Dana’s world are several secondary characters, each with unique personality traits, a specific purpose, and clear motives. A good balance of backstory and interaction with the protagonist keeps their roles in check. Even husband Jimmy—who only sporadically appears in the narrative via the phone—plays a significant role in the story.
Signs of Murder is a well-structured novel. It begins with an important moment that immediately draws readers in. Well-written chapters keep the story moving forward, allow it to unfold in a logical and easy-to-follow manner, and help provide solid pacing. Cliffhanger chapter endings create suspense and urgency that engage readers further into the story. The book includes a climax and ending that nicely wrap up the mystery components and provide a sense of closure, but leave ample room for the next one in the series.